This path helps you build your skills as an accomplished public speaker. The projects on this path focus on learning how an audience responds to different types of humor and improving your ability to deliver a message with humor. The projects contribute to developing an understanding of effective public speaking technique, speech writing, speech delivery, and using humorous stories. This path culminates in an extended speech that will allow you to apply what you learned.
Engaging Humor
Projects
LEVEL ONE: Mastering Fundamentals
Ice Breaker
This foundational project is designed to introduce you to your club and the skills you need to begin your Toastmasters journey.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to introduce yourself to the club and learn the basic structure of a public speech.
Overview: Write and deliver a speech about any topic to introduce yourself to the club. Your speech may be humorous, informational, or any other style that appeals to you.
This project includes:
■ A 4- to 6-minute speechEvaluation and Feedback
This project addresses the skills needed to give and receive feedback. You will learn about giving, receiving and applying feedback.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to present a speech on any topic, receive feedback, and apply the feedback to a second speech.
Overview: Choose any topic for your first 5- to 7-minute speech. After your speech, carefully review your feedback. At a different club meeting, present a 5- to 7-minute speech in which you incorporate feedback from your first speech. You may choose to present the same speech again or a new speech. Your second speech should reflect some or all of the feedback from your first speech. Finally, after you have completed both speeches, serve as an evaluator at a club meeting and deliver constructive feedback about another member’s presentation.
This project includes:
■ A 5- to 7-minute speech
■ Incorporating feedback from your first speech into a second 5- to 7-minute speech
■ Serving as a speech evaluatorResearching and Presenting
This project addresses topic selection strategies, suggestions for research and methods for producing a wellorganized speech.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to learn or review basic research methods and present a well-organized, well-researched speech on any topic.
Overview: Select a topic that you are not already familiar with or that you wish to learn more about. Be sure your topic is narrow enough to be an effective 5- to 7-minute speech. Research the topic and begin organizing the information, as described in this project. Practice your speech and continue to refine its organization. Present your speech at a club meeting.
This project includes:
■ Researching a topic
■ The Research Worksheet
■ The Speech Outline Worksheet
■ A 5- to 7-minute speech
LEVEL TWO: Learning Your Style
Know Your Sense of Humor
This project focuses on understanding what makes you laugh and how to share that with an audience.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to begin developing a collection of humorous stories and to present a speech that includes humor.
Overview: Give a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic of your choosing. Your speech should include at least one anecdote or story intended to entertain or bring humor into your presentation.
This project includes:
■ A 5- to 7-minute speechConnect with Your Audience
This project focuses on different audience types and how to address them effectively.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice the skills needed to connect with an unfamiliar audience.
Overview: Develop a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic that is unfamiliar to the majority of your audience. Because you deliver this speech in your Toastmasters club, you are familiar with the audience members’ preferences and personalities. Selecting a topic that is new or unfamiliar to your club members will allow you to practice adapting as you present. As you speak, monitor the audience’s reaction to your topic and adapt as necessary to maintain engagement.
This project includes:
■ A 5- to 7-minute speechIntroduction to Toastmasters Mentoring
This project introduces the value of mentorship and the Toastmasters view of mentors and protégés.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to clearly define how Toastmasters envisions mentoring.
Overview: Write and present a 5- to 7-minute speech about a time when you were a protégé. Share the impact and importance of having a mentor. This speech is not a report on the content of this project.
Note: Every member in Toastmasters Pathways must complete this project.
This project includes:
■ A 5- to 7-minute speech
LEVEL THREE: Increasing Knowledge
Engage Your Audience With Humor
This project focuses on using humor to enhance the message you deliver in your speech.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is for you to determine your style of humor and apply it to a speech that centers around a central message.
Overview: Give a 5- to 7-minute speech on your point of view and what makes things funny to you. Your speech should include at least one anecdote or story intended to entertain or bring humor into your presentation.
This project includes:
■ A 5- to 7-minute speech
ELECTIVES (choose 2)
LEVEL FOUR: Building Skills
The Power of Humor in an Impromptu Speech
This project focuses on developing strategies for adding humor to any speech, especially impromptu speeches.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is for you to develop your method for giving impromptu speeches and practice adapting rehearsed stories during a presentation.
Overview: You will deliver two 2- to 3-minute speeches. When you are ready to begin the first of your speeches, the Toastmaster of the Day will select a topic from the Impromptu Speech Topics resource. Your speech must last 2 to 3 minutes and include at least one anecdote that is related to the topic. When the first speech is complete, give a second 2- to 3-minute speech on a new topic. Both topics should be selected at random and without your prior knowledge.
This project includes:
■ The Impromptu Speech Topics resource
■ Two 2- to 3-minute impromptu speeches
ELECTIVES (choose 1)
LEVEL FIVE: Demonstrating Expertise
Deliver Your Message with Humor
This project focuses on creating a keynote-length speech that effectively delivers a message and humor to an audience.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice developing and presenting a longer humorous speech.
Overview: Write and present an 18- to 22-minute keynote-style humorous speech. You may choose to use visual aids if they fit your speech and your style. If you receive advanced approval from the vice president education, you may present your speech to a non-Toastmasters audience.
This project includes:
■ The Speech Outline Worksheet
■ An 18- to 22-minute keynote-style humorous speechReflect on Your Path
This project is designed to give you an opportunity to share your experience at the end of your path.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to reflect on your growth during the completion of an entire path.
Overview: At a club meeting, present a 10- to 12-minute speech to share your experience completing your path. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on how far you have come, summarize the skills you have learned and developed, and to celebrate your achievements. Your speech can be humorous, informational, or any style that that appeals to you and supports your speech content.
This project includes:
■ The Your Toastmasters Journey resource
■ A 10- to 12-minute speech